A fantasy 'Island' for kids, but no paradise for adults

by
James Sanford | Kalamazoo Gazette

Thursday April 03, 2008, 11:59 PM

If you are old enough to have seen any Jodie Foster movies made after 1980, chances are you are well outside the target demographic for NIM'S ISLAND, a tropical fantasy designed for viewers whose idea of paradise would be a slumber party with the Cheetah Girls or a backstage pass for a Jonas Brothers concert.

For the pre-junior high set, ISLAND offers reassuring affirmations about believing in yourself ("be the hero of your own story") and respecting nature. For everyone else, it provides sumptuous scenery, an abundance of strenuous, broad humor and the sight of two-time Oscar winner Foster putting herself through the slapstick comedy wringer, which is not always a pretty sight.

Abigail Breslin swings into action in NIM'S ISLAND.

Eleven-year-old Nim (played with spunk to spare by Abigail Breslin of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE fame) lives on an idyllic South Pacific isle with her marine-biologist father (Gerard Butler). Novelist Alexandra (Foster) has sealed herself up inside a San Francisco apartment, where she writes about thrilling adventures she'll never have.

Alexandra begins corresponding with Nim via e-mail while working on her latest book. Nim's dad disappears on a research mission -- you know any time someone sails away shouting, "We might not see algae growth like this for years!" there must be danger on the horizon. When Nim begs for help, Alexandra must overcome her agoraphobia and journey to Nim's home to become a neurotic surrogate mom.

Those who daydream about climbing coconut trees and swimming with sea lions will probably adore ISLAND. Others may question why Nim's glorious house in the heart of typhoon country would have solar power panels and high-speed Internet but apparently no storm windows.

They may also wonder why directors Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin couldn't simply mellow out and let the more-than-capable actors do their work, instead of asking everyone to oversell each emotion. After all, people go to the tropics to unwind, not to work themselves into a frenzy.